With the spring starting to set in after a dry spell of winters, Maha Shivaratri is not only an auspicious day for the devotees but it is also a cosmic definition denoting a change in the universe.

Devotees of Lord Shiva dedicate
Shivaratri to his worship and practice meditation. This year as the
festival falls on February 27, let's know the tale behind its
celebration.

In
Focus

Adorned with beautiful and colourful
flowers Shiva temples are thronged by hoards of devotes on Shivaratri
to get blessings from the deity. Celebrated on the new moon night in
the month of Phalguna, mostly married women observe a day?s fast
for their husband?s long life and wellbeing. They offer ghee, milk,
curd, honey and water as a token of respect to the lord.

Story behind the
celebration

Lord Shiva, one of the most
powerful Hindu deities in the Indian mythology, represents goodness,
benevolence and serves as the transformer. Along with Brahma and
Vishnu, Shiva is considered as a member of the holy trimurty.
There are many stories in the mythology that denote the reason behind
the grand celebration of Shivaratri. According to one of the many
stories, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean during samudra
manthan.

It was then that the people approached
Shiva out of fear and terror. Looking at the evil effects of the
poison, the lord swallowed the poison and kept it in his throat that
turned blue and shinned in this throat. It was then he was known as
the Neelkanth, leading to the grand celebrations of Shiva as he saved
the world from destruction. Also, it is said that the celebration on
this day marks the marriage of Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvati.

It is said that after Shivaratri, the
dry trees start bearing fruits and the earth becomes fertile. As
everything has its significance, the Shiva Linga that is worshipped
all across the country on Shivaratri symbolises fertility.

Shivaratri puja

It is a saying that by
worshipping lord Shiva on this day, a person is absolved of past sins
and is blessed with moksha
or salvation. People bath early in the morning, wear new clothes and
head to the temple. Some people even perform puja
at home by offering bilwa leaves, flowers and garland to the deity.
Six different dravyas
are used during the abhishek
of the Shivalinga which denotes:

Water: It
stands for purity

Sugar: It
symbolises happiness

Milk: It
denotes purity

Honey: Leads
to sweet speech

Yoghurt: It
is for prosperity

Ghee: It
symbolises victory

Married women observe a day long
fast for their husbands and break it the next day with the prasad
that is offered to Shivji. There is no end to celebrations; as the
sun sets, the devotees gather in huge numbers and sing bhajans, chant
mantras and offer prayers to the almighty. The devotees continue to
observe their fast.